New KM3s on the truck

I just picked up a set of KM3s in 285/70/17. I run Ridge Grapplers and KO2s on my other trucks, so I wanted to try something more aggressive on the Tacoma. I’ve had the original BFG MT, MT KMs and tried the KM2s but didn’t like them. I’ve had Super Swampers and other very aggressive tires, but tire tech has gotten so good in the last 5 years it’s hard not to choose an AT that’s great in 90% of all situations. So that’s the lens I’m looking through to review these KM3s.

The tires I pulled off the truck were Mickey Thompson ATZ P3s which are good all around and wear nice. The KM3s immediately felt much heavier in the same size, particularly while steering. They also (predictably) have an on center vagueness to them, and you can feel the lugs slightly at low speeds/coming to a stop. Right after picking up the truck from Discount, I went on a camping trip - 480 miles of highway and 80 miles of off road on slippery mud and rocky trails.

If you’ve ever had a full on mud terrain tire, you’ll be familiar with the usual characteristics - loud, wander on the pavement, etc. I figured these would be great “for a mud tire” and that’s exactly what they feel like. I run a 34” KO2 on another truck, and these are louder, wander more, and you feel them more. They have far better traction in the mud of course, but there’s one issue I used to hate with MTs that still exists here - lateral traction. Going forward and backwards in the sticky stuff is easy, but throw a log or rock climb into the mix and the tire wants to slip to the side. It catches eventually, but I’m surprised they aren’t better. They’ve improved incrementally from older versions, but it’s not perfect and needs some careful throttle/steering/tire placement especially if the trail is narrow. They are very good on the rocks in the dry and sand as well.

I ran this same trail system under similar conditions with the Nitto Ridge Grapplers, and the RGs only gave up a little performance in the slipperiest stuff while they were better on the road and are much quieter.

TL;DR - KM3s are very good, but they’re still mud tires. If you want a quiet, do (almost) anything tire with great on road handling, get a good all terrain. KM3s are NOT just a slightly more aggressive KO2.

 

Im waiting to see reviews on them in the snow. Currently have duratracs and gonna need a new set here in about 20k 50k on them now.

 

Great review. Thanks for taking the time to write this up!

 

did you air down any? As this will change the performance of the tire (for the better), specifically perhaps with the sliding laterally in the conditions described above.

 

Yep - 19 psi in the front and 20 psi in the back. Always air down as soon as I leave pavement.

 

I am very confident these will be terrible in the snow. Duratracs are one of the best especially new in the snow and any MT is going to be FAR worse than what you’re used to. Just look at the tread blocks - no siping on the KM3 and massive lugs which is the opposite of what you want in a snow tire. Better choice is KO2, Falken AT3, Cooper AT3, etc. The first two are rated for snow and have the snowflake on the sidewall too.

 

So true.... I found out the hard way.
Get an AT tire they're the best, IMO

 

Would you have rather gotten the ko2 over the km3’s you purchased ?

 

I was wondering when I would see a thread with KM3s. I really liked my KM2s, but definitely had to get them siped as they slid everywhere. Now I think they are phasing out aftermarket siping.

Great observation and spot on for the snow. Any large tread block tire is going to have issues in the snow. Both KO2 and Duratrac have the snowflake tire rating. That said I the KM3 offer significant sidewall protection upgrades over earlier tires in off road scenarios where snow isn't an issue.

 

Usually MTs are lousy in the snow, the blocks are too big. The bfg ATs always did a lot better.

 

I'm liking the KM3 much better than the KO2 I was running.

Watch "BFGoodrich KM3 Mud Terrain Review After 10,000 Miles" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/YNLGbepOwkU

 

I experienced the opposite... People with km2s drove circles around me (while I had diratracs) in the snow. I swapped to km2s a few years back and they did amazing in the snow vs duratracs

 

Great info

 

Maybe try airing down more? I air down to 14 psi and my tires are nice and flexy, but not so much I feel like I'm going to pop the bead off. Always done 14-15 and never had issues.

 

If it was a daily driver, I absolutely would have gone with an AT. My favorite tire right now is the Ridge Grappler that I run on my 200, so that’s what I’d put on this if it was more than a wheeling/camping rig.

I thought about going lower, but I was very heavy and played it conservative. I had 15 gallons of water, 40 gallons of fuel, etc. I’ll experiment lowering further next weekend.

 

Huh?

 

50k on your existing tires? what type?

 

I don’t think 19 psi is anywhere near street pressure but to each their own.

 

I can at least confirm that KM2s are shit in snow, and I assume my Extreme Countries that I just put on will also be garbage in snow, even being 35s.

Mud tires all just seem doomed to suck in the white stuff

 

I’m assuming you mean on road? My cooper mtps did awesome in about 6”-8” on the trails.